My top 5 favourite albums of all time
With the absence of new music constantly flowing into our much-loved streaming services at the minute, it can be hard to picture what “normal times” for the music industry were like.
It seems as though all we can do is reminisce on times gone by, remembering those albums that had a deep and meaningful impact on our daily lives...and yearly Spotify listening hours, too.
Here are 5 albums that are worth listening to, in my opinion of course...5. 5am - Amber Run
Released in 2015, 5am is Amber Run’s first studio album. Consisting of mellow tracks and creating a smooth listening experience, this record is one of my all time favorites, even 6 years on. Songs such as Haze, 5am and I Found are all the perfect tracks to listen to when falling asleep, revolving around the elegant harmonies coming from all the band members. Other tracks, including Just My Soul Responding, push for a more up-beat sound and create the perfect balance that this record benefits from.
I would recommend this album to anyone. It has everything that a well-rounded record requires and has proven this with its success. The band, originally from Nottingham, have since released 2 more albums and have evolved in a mature and exciting manner. As keen as I am to see more from this band, 5am will always have a special place in my heart and made me buy a ticket to see them 3 years ago in Manchester.
4. BADLANDS - Halsey
BADLANDS is an album that, if you haven’t already, I would highly recommend listening to. American singer Halsey released this album in 2015 and it is still something I regularly listen to. I find that it’s one of those records that suits every type of mood. Happy, chilled, upset: BADLANDS is the perfect go-to. A personal favourite of mine is Gasoline, simply because it is so unlike any song I’ve heard before. Colours, Roman Holiday and Drive are also notable favourites and well-known tracks.
Halsey has since released other records and, despite having listened to them, I don’t think they meet the same standard as BADLANDS did. The first song I heard off this album was New Americana and it certainly set the scene. However, I didn’t fully fall in love with the record until I heard the rest of the album and I’m so glad I did.
3. Emeli Sandé - Our Version Of Events
A blast from the past, Our Version Of Events was released in 2012 by the British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé and makes for an interesting listen. I can’t explain why, but this album has been one of those records that I seem to revisit all the time and it constantly keeps drawing me back in. I think it’s the variety of different songs, such as Next To Me and Heaven, as well as my favourite My Kind Of Love that I enjoy listening to so much. Albums with variety are definitely albums worth listening to.
Despite being more off radar since releasing this record, Emeli Sandé has gone on to create more records since Our Version Of Events and each one has been produced to the same high standard. Read All About It Pt.III, Beneath Your Beautiful and Wonder are 3 of her more well-known songs and even though they’re very good, it’s the ones purely off her album that stood out to me the most when I first bought the record
2. Coldplay - X&Y
A true 2000’s hit, X&Y is by far one of my favourite albums of all time. It is a timeless record that still hits with that familiar nostalgic feeling you get when you hear music you haven’t heard since childhood. Square One, Talk and The Hardest Part carry that unique, trademark sound only Coldplay could create, forever remaining a brilliantly-produced album.
Fronted by Chris Martin, the four piece have been reigning the charts for over a decade now, with each album differing slightly in both its sound and theme. For many, Coldplay’s recent work is their best. However, for me, their third studio album X&Y will forever remain my favourite. If you haven’t listened to any of the songs from the album before now, I would start at the very beginning with the dramatic intro in Square One and listen all the way through to the end of Til Kingdom Come. You won’t regret it.
- AM - Arctic Monkeys
Similarly to 5am, AM is another album that has a perfect mix of various styles of songs. Do I Wanna Know? and Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High are both songs with steady rhythm, heavily guitar focused and provides us with a new sound from the Sheffield band.
Thinking back to their earlier music, the Arctic Monkeys’ heavier sound can be heard in the likes of Arabella. I think, after questioning it for a long time, that is the reason why I like AM so much. It feels like it was the perfect transition between their records before and after its release, containing elements of an ever-changing and evolving band. It is safe to say that their music has since changed an awful lot. However, no one can ever take AM away from their discography and it will forever remain an amazing album
